SALAMA, Kenya – The deaths of 17 Catholic pilgrims in a road crash at Mlima Kiu in Salama have renewed attention on one of the most notorious black spots along the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway.
Despite its name, “Salama”, which means safety in Kiswahili, the area has over the years become associated with devastating road crashes that have claimed lives and left survivors with serious injuries.
The latest tragedy has once again raised concerns among residents and motorists over the safety of the highway and the factors that continue to make the stretch particularly dangerous.
A review of the journey from Nairobi to Mlima Kiu shows a significant change in the road configuration that motorists encounter as they travel towards Mombasa.
Dual Carriageway Ends At Machakos Junction
For roughly 70 kilometres after leaving Nairobi, motorists use a dual carriageway with two lanes in each direction, providing more space for vehicles to manoeuvre.
The situation changes at Machakos Junction, where the dual carriageway ends and traffic transitions to a single carriageway towards Salama.
The highway narrows, with vehicles travelling in opposite directions separated mainly by road markings.
The change leaves motorists with less room to react when a vehicle loses control or when an attempt to overtake goes wrong.
Drivers who regularly use the Nairobi-Mombasa route describe the stretch as one of the most challenging sections of the journey.
Along the more than 40-kilometre stretch between Machakos Junction and Salama, motorists have been observed speeding, overlapping and making risky overtaking manoeuvres as they compete for space on the busy highway.
Mlima Kiu Bears Scars Of Latest Crash
At Mlima Kiu, the aftermath of Saturday’s crash remained visible following the deaths of the 17 pilgrims.
Residents who were among the first to arrive at the scene described a devastating accident, with several victims reportedly dying at the scene while others were trapped inside the wreckage.
But the 17 victims are the latest casualties in a stretch where residents say crashes have occurred repeatedly.
Near the black spot, one family has the grave of its patriarch, who residents said died in another crash at Mlima Kiu just two weeks before the pilgrims’ tragedy.
A short distance away, a boda boda rider identified as Kilonzo still has the wreckage of the motorcycle that once provided his livelihood.
He survived a crash on the same stretch three months ago, but his passenger died.
Residents Blame Road Configuration
Residents and motorists say the design of the highway compounds the risks whenever a driver loses control.
Because opposing traffic shares the same narrow carriageway, motorists can have few options to avoid a collision, particularly when vehicles are travelling at high speeds or drivers attempt dangerous overtaking manoeuvres.
Truck drivers who regularly operate along the Nairobi-Mombasa route also identify fatigue, reckless driving and poor lane discipline as major risks.
The dangers are particularly pronounced on long-distance journeys, where drivers spend extended periods on the highway.
Salama Police Yard Filled With Wreckage
The scale of the crashes is also visible at Salama Police Station, where the yard contains wreckage from vehicles involved in different accidents along the highway.
The mangled remains serve as a grim reminder of crashes that have occurred in the surrounding area.
Residents say frequent accidents have made the stretch a source of concern and are calling for urgent measures to improve road safety.
Among their key demands is the expansion of the highway into a dual carriageway.
They argue that separating traffic travelling in opposite directions would reduce the risk of head-on collisions and provide motorists with safer room to manoeuvre.
Calls For Urgent Road Safety Measures
The latest tragedy has reignited questions over the safety of the Nairobi-Mombasa Highway and whether infrastructure improvements can help prevent further loss of life.
Residents and motorists are also calling for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to address speeding, dangerous overtaking, overlapping and poor lane discipline.
The deaths at Mlima Kiu have once again placed the spotlight on the need to address both the physical condition and configuration of the road and the behaviour of motorists using one of Kenya’s busiest highways.
